Insulator mounting



Patented June 6, 1944 INSULATOR MOUNTING LorellJ. Schilling, Brookfield,Ill., assigner to Babson Bros. Co., va corporation of IllinoisApplication September 4, 1941, Serial No. 409,582

4 Claims. ,(Cl. 174-158) This invention relates to an insulatormounting, and more particularly to improved means for supporting aninsulator particularly designed for an electric fence.

One feature of this invention is that it provides improved means forsupporting thel wire of an electric fence; another feature of thisinvention is that the insulator mounting or bracket is particularlystrong and particularly well locked to the insulator; a further featureis that the bracket is adapted to be attached to a number of differenttypes of posts; other features and vadvantages of this invention will beapparent from the following specification and the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the mounting bracket, theposition of the insulator thereon being indicated in dotted lines;Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the showing of Figure 1; Figure3 is a top plan view of the same arrangement; Figure 4 is a view of thesheet metal blank from which the bracket is made; Figure 5 is a detailsectional view showing the method by which the insulator and bracket arelocked together; and Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View showing themethod by which the bracket is attached to a metal fence post.

Electric fences for holding stock or protecting fields have becomeincreasingly DOpular in the past few years. These fences generallycomprise only a single strand of wire, normally insulated from theground, and are supplied with shocking current of high voltage and lowamperage. When an animal contacts the fence the circuit is completed toground and the animal receives a shock causing it to shy away from thefence. After several such experiences the animals usually become trainedto stay away from the fence altogether.

The big advantages of such fences are, of course, the fact that theynormally require only a single wire, and can be used with light widelyspaced posts, so that movement of fences is greatly facilitated. This isparticularly important in connection with rotation of pasturage and thelike, where it may be desirable to move a fence every month. Even wherefences are only moved once a year, the labor costs are greatly reducedby using an electric fence rather than the old-fashioned type of fencerelying on its strength to stop the animals. In order that thesenormally open circuit fences shall not be inemcient and waste energizingcurrent it is necessary that they be Well insulated from ground.Previous efforts in this direction have involved many disadvantages anddefects.

My present invention comprises mounting means particularly designed tosupport line insulators for electric fences. The mounting means may beused on either wooden or metal posts, and the arrangement is such thatthey may be very easily and quickly assembled in proper relation to theinsulators, and the two locked together.

Referring now to the particular embodiment of my invention illustratedherewith, a mounting bracket indicated in general as I0 is shownattached to a Wooden post II by nails I 2 and I3 driven through openingsI4 and I5 in the bracket.

The bracket comprises three principal portions, one portion I6 beingadapted to lie against the fence post; another portion I1 extending atright angles therefrom; and a third portion I8 extending upwardly atright angles to the latter portion, this last mentioned portion I8 beingformed in a channel or U-shape as may be best seen in Figure 3.

This upstanding channel portion of the bracket is adapted to support agenerally cylindrical line insulator I9 provided with circumferentialgrooves 20 and 2l, the upper groove 20 being adapted to support a fencewire, so that the fence wire is insulated from ground and may be appro-`priately electrically energized. As may be best seen in Figure 3, thefence wire 22 may be held in place in the upper 4groove by a shortconnecting or holding wire 23. The particular outer con- `figuration ofthe generally cylindrical insulator is quite important, and theparticular form I disclose here is very efficient in shedding water andis so designed as to practically eliminate breakage from strain on thefence wire, particularly where the fence wire is at a slight angle toits proper position in the groove. This insulator shape will not bedescribed in detail here, since vit was fully described in my earlierled copending application, Serial No. 353,729, filed August 22, 1940,and since it is the subject matter to which my Design Patent 126,722,which issued April 22, 11941, is directed. It should be particularlynoted, however, that the bottom of the insulator is pro- .vided with aquite deep depression or upwardly character shown in Figure 4 would berst stamped out of flat sheet metal, preferably metal of a thickness inthe neighborhood of 14 gauge. The same operation which stamped out theshape shown in Figure 4 would also stamp out the previously mentionedholes lli Vand l5, the hole 2B, the notch or slot 2l, and cut threesides of a tongue 26, preferably also forming it out at an angle ofabout 30, as shown in dotted lines in Figure l. By appropriate formingdies the end 29 would then be turned up at right angles to the portionI6, the portions I6 and Il bent at right angles to each other along theline 3U, and the channel portion formed by rst making a right angle bendalong the dotted line 3|, and then another right angle bend along thedotted line 32.

The bracket would then be in condition to be assembled with theinsulaton'and this -could be readily done by slipping the insulatoryover the channel-shaped portion. In order to enable this to be done theinsulator Ill is provided with a substantially square axial opening 33adapted to snugly receive the channel-shaped portion, as may be bestseen in Figures 3 and 5, this opening being provided in one wall with apocket 34, the bottom 35 of the pocket providing a shoulder adapted tocooperate with the previously mentioned Atongue 28 of the bracket.. .y

Since the initial bend of the tongue does not cause it to extend beyondVthe space occupied by the channel-shaped portion, Vthe insulator can beeasily slipped vdown into position, the parts then being as illustratedin Figure l.. It will be understood that the assembly of the insulatorand its bracket is performed at the factory, and that at the time thebracket and insulator were as shown in Figure 1 they would not normallyhave been fastened on a post, being shown in this position merely forconvenience of illustration of the nal way in which my invention will beused. When the insulator and bracket are in this relation a small squarepunch is inserted up into the opening, within the connes of thechannel-shaped portion, and the tongue forced out to the position shownin Figure 5, the end of the tongue then engaging the shoulder 35 andiirmly locking the insulator and bracket together. This lockingVoperation can be very simple and conveniently performed by a punch withits end at the desired terminal angle of the tongue 28, that shown inFigure 5, since it is only necessary to stand the insulator and bracketupside down on a work table, insert the punch, and tap it once with ahammer to lock the parts together. The

assembled insulators and brackets are then shipped to the farmer andused as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The provision ofthe two holes I4 and I5 enables the mounting bracket tobe rigidly nailed or screwed to a wooden post with the channel portionin the desired upright position or, if preferred, in a horizontalposition. In addition, the provision of the hole 26 and the slot 2lenables the bracket to be conveniently and quickly at- "position, andwhich may be conveniently fastened to either conventional wooden ormetal Y fence posts.

tachedto a light iron or steel post ofthe kind finding favor withelectric fences,=as shown in Figure-6. If 'reference is `had to thisfigure it that itV The provision of a channel-shaped insulatorsupporting portion provides great strength;V and the particular lockingarrangement insures against subsequent separation of the insulator Vfromits bracket.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood is capable iof many modications. Changes, therefore,in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as Vdisclosed in the appendedclaims.

Ir claim:

K 1-. Apparatus of the character described, including: a generallycylindrical insulator having an axial rectangular opening therein havinga pocket in one wall providing a shoulder; and a metal supporting memberhaving a channel portion adapted to be at least partially snuglyreceived in the opening, said portion being provided with a tongueadapted to be forced out into engagement with said shoulder to lock theinsulator on the supporting member.V

2. A member for supporting an insulator having an opening therein,including: a portion adapted to be mounted on a post or similar support;a portion extending at right angles thereto; and a U-shaped channelportion at right angles to the second mentioned portion, this U-shapedportion being provided with an angularly extending tongue .and beingadapted to be received insaid opening and locked therein, the entiremember being a single unitary piece'of initially nat sheet metal. Y

3. Apparatus of the character described, including: an insulator havingan opening therein provided with a shoulder; and a soft sheet metalsupporting member having a portion channel shaped in cross section andat least partially received in a snug fit in the opening, said openinghaving a shape corresponding to that of the channel shaped portion, thechannel shaped portion being provided with a tongue portion forced outinto enga-gement with said shoulder and remaining in engagementtherewith to lock the insulator on the supporting member.

4. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 3, wherein the channelshaped portion is open at the end extending out of the insulator and islarge enough to provide room for the insertion of a tool to force thetongue out into engagement with the shoulder.

LORELL J. SCHILLING.

